Panel adjustment method for increasing display quality

ABSTRACT

A panel adjustment method is executed on a host to adjust settings of a panel connected to the host through a serial bus. The method determines whether the panel is supported by the host. When the panel is supported by the host, the settings of the panel is read from a database of the host to accordingly set the panel. It is further determined whether the panel is correctly set or not. When the panel is correctly set, it is further determined whether the panel is of a frame buffer mode or not. When the panel is of a frame buffer mode, it is determined whether a header file generation is required or not. When the header file generation is required, the settings and a panel name are included in an include file. The include file is compiled to thereby generate a binary file which is loaded into the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the technical field of settingadjustment of a panel and, more particularly, to a panel adjustmentmethod applied in a factory production.

2. Description of Related Art

Thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT LCDs) are the mostrapid developing product after the semiconductor devices. However, forconsideration of costs and material sources, LCD manufacturers do notinsistently use the panels from the same supplier.

For a fast cost change in the global panel market, the LCD manufacturersare changing the panel suppliers frequently. Accordingly, the same typeof LCDs may use two or more different types of panels from differentfactories. Since different types of panels have different features, LCDson the production line require a calibration process to ensure that thesame type of LCDs can have the same display feature and effect.

The calibration is performed on the contrast and brightness of an LCD asthe internal elements are fixed. Thereby it obtains an optimalcorresponding ratio and an optimal representation to an LCD frame.Typically, calibrating the “golden LCD” having the high definition whichis then used as a standard for calibration of all the same type of LCDsrequires a professional hardware engineer for two to four hours. The LCDmanufacturers need a professional calibration to increase the entiredisplay quality and ensure that all types of panels can have a samedisplay effect, which is not satisfactory to the LCD manufacturers.Accordingly, due to the consideration of cost control, it is desirableto provide an improved calibration to mitigate and/or obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a panel adjustmentmethod, which increases the display quality of an LCD and presents thesame effect on all types of panels.

According to a feature of the invention, a panel adjustment method isprovided, which is executed on a host to adjust settings of a panelconnected to the host through a serial bus. The method includes thesteps of: (A) determining whether the panel is supported by the host;(B) reading the settings of the panel from database of the host toaccordingly set the panel when the panel is supported by the host, andfurther determining whether the panel is correctly set; (C) determiningwhether the panel is at a frame buffer mode when the panel is correctlyset; (D) determining whether generating a header file is required whenthe panel is at a frame buffer mode; (E) inputting an include file and apanel name, placing the settings and the panel name in the include file,and storing the include file when generating the header file isrequired; and (F) compiling the include file to thereby generate abinary file, and loading the binary file into the panel.

According to another feature of the invention, a computer readablerecording medium is provided, which loads a program for execution on ahost to adjust settings of a panel connected to the host through aserial bus. The program includes: a first procedure, which determineswhether the panel is supported by the host; a second procedure, whichreads the settings of the panel from database of the host to accordinglyset the panel when the panel is supported by the host, and furtherdetermines whether the panel is correctly set; a third procedure, whichdetermines whether the panel is at a frame buffer mode when the panel iscorrectly set; a fourth procedure, which determines whether generating aheader file is required when the panel is at the frame buffer mode; afifth procedure, which places the settings and a panel name in aninclude file and stores the include file when generating the header fileis required; and a sixth procedure, which) compiles the include file tothereby generate a binary file, and loads the binary file into thepanel.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an application of a panel adjustmentmethod according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a panel adjustment method according to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a user interface (UI) for a paneladjustment method according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an advanced setting UI for a paneladjustment method according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a Gamma setting UI for a paneladjustment method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an application of a panel adjustmentmethod according to the invention. The method is applied to a host 110for adjusting the settings of a panel 120. The panel 120 can be an LCDmonitor or an LCD television. The panel 120 is connected to the host 110through a serial bus 130. The serial bus 130 is implemented to one of avideo graphics array (VGA), a digital visual interface (DVI) and a highdefinition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection interfaces 140, 150and 160, respectively on the panel 120. The USB 130 is preferably anRS232, I2C and the like.

The panel adjustment method is implemented as a software program with acomputer language and stored in a hard disk 170 or a flash drive 180.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the panel adjustment method according to theinvention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a user interface (UI)displayed on the panel 190 of the host 110 when a panel adjustmentmethod is executed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, step S205 determines whether the panel 120 issupported by the host 110. When a settings file for the panel 120 isstored in database of the host 110, it is determined that the panel 120is supported by the host 110. For example, in case that the panel 120 isan AUO32″ panel supplied by AU Optronics Corp., it is determined thatthe panel 120 is supported by the host 110 when the file auo32.txt isstored in the database.

Conversely, when step S205 determines that the panel 120 is notsupported by the host 110, step S215 is executed to further input thesettings of the panel 120. In step S215, a panel specification field“Panel Spec”, an advanced setting field “Advanced Setting”, an outputfrequency field “Output Freq”, a horizontal display field “DisplayHorizontal” and a vertical display field “Display Vertical” are theessential input settings.

When the panel 120 is supported by the host 110, step S210 reads thesettings of the panel 120 from the database of the host 110 toaccordingly set the panel 120 and further determines whether the panel120 is correctly set.

When the panel is not correctly set, step S215 is executed to furtherinput the settings of the panel 120.

When the panel is correctly set, step S220 determines whether the panel120 is at a frame buffer mode.

Step S220 is based on the size of memory (not shown) from the panel 120to determine whether the panel 120 is at the frame buffer mode. When thesize of the memory is greater than a threshold, it is determined thatthe panel 120 is at frame buffer mode, and otherwise it is determinedthat the panel 120 is at a bypass mode. When the memory of the panel 120is essentially used as a frame buffer. However, only when the memory ofthe panel 120 is greater than the threshold, the memory is regarded asthe frame buffer, and otherwise the memory is regarded as a bypassbuffer in the bypass mode.

When the panel is at the frame buffer mode, step S225 determines whetherto generate a header file (.h file) for change.

When generating the header file is not required in step S225, a button“Update Flash” of FIG. 3 is pressed to load the settings into the panel120 (step S230).

When generating the header file is required, it indicates that the panel120 to be recorded by the host 110 uses another panel, and in this casestep S235 inputs an include file and a panel name. The settings and thepanel name are placed in the include file, and the include file isstored. For example, the AUO32″ panel supplied by AU Optronics Corp. ischanged into a CMO32″ panel supplied by CHIMEI Corp. Namely, the includefile CM032.h and the panel name CMO32#1 is input in order to include thepanel name CMO32#1 and associated settings in the include file CMO32.h.

Step S240 recompiles the include file to thereby generate a binary file,and step S270 loads the binary file into the panel.

When step S220 determines that the panel is at a bypass mode, thesettings of the panel are computed, which is done by pressing the button“Start Bypass” of FIG. 3. Since the panel 120 is at the bypass mode, thetiming is stricter than that at the frame buffer mode. Thus, the methodcomputes the pixel clock and adjusts the horizontal and verticalsynchronous parameters Hsync and Vsync of the panel 120 (step S245). Inaddition, when the button “Advance Setting” of FIG. 3 is pressed, adisplay picture is shown in FIG. 4 in which a schematic diagram of anadvanced setting UI of a panel adjustment method applied to a panel 190of the host 110 is provided. When a button “G” of FIG. 3 is pressed, apicture for inputting Gamma settings by the operator is shown in FIG. 5in which a schematic diagram of a Gamma setting UI of a panel adjustmentmethod is provided.

Step S250 selects a bypass table file. Step S255 determines whether thebypass table file contains a setting field for the panel 120. The bypasstable file has a filename extension “.h”.

In step S260, when step S255 determines that the bypass table filecontains the setting field, the settings computed in step S245 is usedto update the setting field of the bypass table file, and step S240 isexecuted.

In step S265, when step S255 determines that the bypass table file doesnot contain the setting field, an associated field is added in order touse the settings computed in step S245 to update the setting field ofthe bypass table file, and then step S240 is executed.

The method of the invention can be implemented with a computer languageand stored in a computer readable medium which can be recognized andread by a microprocessor or in a product and device that contains themedium. The medium can be a hard disk, floppy, optical disk, ZIP, MO,RAM and so on. Since the method to update the operating system iscompletely disclosed as cited above, a person skilled in computerlanguage can code the required software program with reference to thisdescription, so a further detail is not described any more.

As cited, the invention concludes the parameters for different panelsand computes the timing for the panels in program. When the panel 120 isat a frame buffer mode, a header file (.h) is produced and compiled tothereby produce a binary file, and the flash is directly updated to savethe compiling time. When the panel 120 is at a bypass mode, the pixelclock is automatically computed to thereby adjust the settings Hsync andVsync of the panel 120 to thereby reduce the time taken to calibrate thesettings of the panel 120 by a professional hardware engineer and ensurethat the same effect can be presented on all used panels. Thus, thepicture quality of the LCD is entirely increased.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible,modifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A panel adjustment method, which is executed on a host to adjustsettings of a panel connected to the host through a serial bus, themethod comprising the steps of: (A) determining whether the panel issupported by the host; (B) reading the settings of the panel fromdatabase of the host to accordingly set the panel when the panel issupported by the host, and further determining whether the panel iscorrectly set; (C) determining whether the panel is at a frame buffermode when the panel is correctly set; (D) determining whether generatinga header file is required when the panel is at a frame buffer mode; (E)inputting an include file and a panel name, placing the settings and thepanel name in the include file and storing the include file whengenerating the header file is required; and (F) compiling the includefile to thereby generate a binary file, and loading the binary file intothe panel.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising thestep of (G) loading the settings into the panel when step (D) determinesthat generating the header file is not required.
 3. The method asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: (H) computing thesettings of the panel when step (C) determines that the panel is at abypass mode; (I) selecting a bypass table file; (J) determining whetherthe bypass table file contains a setting field for the panel; and (K)using the settings of the panel computed in step (H) to update thesetting filed of the bypass table file when the bypass table filecontains the setting field for the panel, and executing step (F).
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of: (L) addingan associated field for using the settings of the panel computed in step(H) to update the associated filed of the bypass table file when thebypass table file does not contain the setting field for the panel, andexecuting step (F).
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, furthercomprising the step of: (M) inputting the settings of the panel whenstep (A) determines that the panel is not supported by the host.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of: (N)inputting the settings of the panel when step (B) determines that thepanel is not correctly set, and executing step (C).
 7. The method asclaimed in claim 6, wherein step (C) is based on memory size of thepanel to determine whether the panel is at the frame buffer mode.
 8. Themethod as claimed in claim 7, wherein the panel is determined to be atthe frame buffer mode when the memory size of the panel is greater thana threshold, and conversely the panel is at the bypass mode.
 9. Themethod as claimed in claim 8, wherein the include file in step (E) has afilename extension “.h”.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe bypass table file has a filename extension “.h”.
 11. A computerreadable recording medium, which loads a program for execution on a hostto adjust settings of a panel connected to the host through a serialbus, the program comprising: a first procedure, which determines whetherthe panel is supported by the host; a second procedure, which reads thesettings of the panel from database of the host to accordingly set thepanel when the panel is supported by the host, and further determineswhether the panel is correctly set; a third procedure, which determineswhether the panel is at a frame buffer mode when the panel is correctlyset; a fourth procedure, which determines whether generating a headerfile is required when the panel is at the frame buffer mode; a fifthprocedure, which places the settings and a panel name in an include fileand stores the include file when generating the header file is required;and a sixth procedure, which compiles the include file to therebygenerate a binary file, and loads the binary file into the panel. 12.The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:a seventh procedure, which loads the settings into the panel when thefourth procedure determines that generating the header file is notrequired.
 13. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 12,further comprising: an eighth procedure, which computes the settings ofthe panel when the third procedure determines that the panel is at abypass mode; a ninth procedure, which selects a bypass table file; atenth procedure, which determines whether the bypass table file containsa setting field for the panel; and an eleventh procedure, which uses thesettings of the panel computed in the eighth procedure to update thesetting filed of the bypass, table file when the bypass table filecontains the setting field for the panel, and executes the sixthprocedure.
 14. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 13,further comprising: a twelfth procedure, which adds an associated fieldfor using the settings of the panel computed to update the associatedfiled of the bypass table file when the bypass table file does notcontain the setting field for the panel, and executes the sixthprocedure.
 15. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14,further comprising: a thirteenth procedure, which inputs the settings ofthe panel when the first procedure determines that the panel is notsupported by the host, and executes the third procedure.
 16. Thecomputer readable medium as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: afourteenth procedure, which inputs the settings of the panel when thesecond procedure determines that the panel is not correctly set, andexecutes the third procedure.
 17. The computer readable medium asclaimed in claim 16, wherein the third procedure is based on memory sizeof the panel to determine whether the panel is at the frame buffer mode.18. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein thepanel is determined to be at the frame buffer mode when the memory sizeof the panel is greater than a threshold, and conversely the panel is atthe bypass mode.
 19. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim18, wherein the include file in the fifth procedure has a filenameextension “.h”.
 20. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19,wherein the bypass table file in the ninth procedure has a filenameextension “.h”.